Apparatus for applying heat and pressure to strip material



Dec. 23, 1947. ,1. c. CROWLEY 2,433,094

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HEAT AND PRESSURE TO STRIP MATERIAL Original Filed April 23, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY Jb/w Ceawzsr necfzs, 1947.

J. C. CROWLEY APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HEAT AND PRESSURE TO STRIP MATERIAL 3 Sheebs-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 23, 1943 INVENTOR 2,433,094 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HEAT AND PRESSURE TO STRIP MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 23, 1947. .1. c. CROWLEY Original Filed April 23,- 1943 Q, I A3 I- N n xsnwglw Q 1 lg! n! Q Ql H A 0 H A 1% @QEE INVENTOR. Byl bfi/v C CPOWLE) I I l A N m 914M MO W flrra/eh/Ers Patented Dec. 23, 1947 Ki A-RA s bunt pat 412111; 4 1946; seria ly 6 M1. ,J, M. in -:l. 5 ,imwith may the .fimnloxtedfliorwcuning. g lassi1=plmoeclitrubbentbeltn rmet trip; m terial as willtbe-i eppa reht uring the further l en 9 2 5 9 ..v t i lqt ere le t and: pr L plied to strip mat ml 10 e eenratprw t A autoclave Q d ee em sst ve were; to unite multiple ply' material into a laminated structure. n A .1

er obiett is w Jectgaiid g iaeosiki Johiio. gr wly, Willm ghby, Ohio his application J imuary 25;

Claimsi.

i it M 1 1? er to receive'su'ccessive increretain ed: t elem G; EATVAN i Z RML 6, Alma? iit f eb d e sliei jd's'qliq f ee; e e q l 'o the 2 .12 9 wzill'stlireof to; seal ne cesseir pe nings ;to thei er afidthu enablethe"pressure within the cHa', berto bbniaintainei'aitthe desired degree; A furthero'bje'e't oflthe-inve'ntion is to provide afi apparatus -forapplying heat and pressure tostrip material which "is so constructed that thestrip material can; b'e=fed; contin 1ous1y through a, "sealedchamber-mf -a processing-f device: and- Which chafiibrcontains-heated fluid or -a molten sfibs'tance antler pressure; thepressure' in the chamber bein'maintain'edapt the desired degree without leakelg'e at the fluid or substance through the} inlet and exit openings in the chamber forthe strip: material or through-or rajroun l bearings which" may beLcar ried b 3n the -chaLmber walls for supporting movable parts of the-device. Another/(object of. the' invention is to provide an;apparatus fortapplying heatand pressure toa strip material-.ajndtwhich islsso constructemthat the, vstrip; maiteriallt can .4 be v: -fed:.-ic0ntinuously through a -.sealed chamber :ofxthe .apparatus;cone tainingmheatted fluid ona tmolten -substance under pressure .landtthe; pressure; in vtheiachambersmainai' tained at: the desiremdegree without. leakage; of. the fluidmor .substanceiithrough theiinletuand exit: openings :in the chamber iortthmstrip Lmate-H rial by providingin .connectiontwithsaid openings, zones which progressively tadim-inish. .in areal-tor ward the outside of; the; chamber and whichifuncfi tionttoresistithepressureaim the chamber, and by progressively: cooling andlsolidifying thegfiuid or substance .inisaid: zonesitosaaksaid iepenings li tl ligrther andmadditionaleobjectsiof the ;inven=.-;

tiong-andeadvanta es; derived: ifromm- -theizpractic thereof; wil become:apparenttdurineqthe d tai ed description which isttqiollowiof .=siev,eral;embodi ments iof thejnyentipn. Referring to the acmnany ngid awin s; 11.5 '11;

:Eigmtis a lon itudinal yer) ameetiona me. throu htantapparatus iembodying the invention; and-capable. of carrying'houtmthezmethqd thereofi,

.Eigi;: 2 data transverse lsectionalgview ttalzene; substantiallyialong line 127.2 of Fig. 1, looking in the difeCfiOILDfith arrows; L -t-*-" Fig. l 3 is. a fragmentary horizontal sectional view-taken'substaritiellyi gllong line' 3-3w0f Fig. 2, look irigin the direction"of the arrows v 'l figi 4 is a transverse vertical sectionejlf View illiistrdti 'g elevajti-o' one of the} propulsion) 3 fied arrangement for the inlet opening than that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating a still different form of inlet opening than is shown in either Fig. 1 or Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the apparatus with certain of the parts thereof shown in elevation; the propulsion rolls of Fig. 1 omitted in this view and stationary means provided in lieu thereof in the sealed chamber for supporting the strip material.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown an apparatus embodying the invention and which comprises an elongated substantially closed hollow structure II] which, in the present instance, is of substantially rectangular configuration. The structure I is,

supported at a suitable height from the floor by means of legs I I. The end walls of the structure are provided with horizontally extending slots I2 and I3 located midway between the top and bottom walls of the structure with the slot I2 in the left hand end wall, as viewed in Fig. 1, constituting an inlet slot for the strip material and the slot I3 in the right hand end wall constituting an outlet slot for said material. The interior of the structure constitutes a pressure chamber as will later be referred to. The structure In may be enclosed partially or completely in suitable insulating material I4, as indicated in Figs. 4 and '7. Vertically spaced series of heating elements I5 extend across the interior of the structure II] with each series including a plurality of heating elements spaced longitudinally of the structure.

The heating elements I5 may be electrical heating elements or they may be conduits in which steam, hot air or other heating medium is circulated. Although the heating elements may all generate the same degree of heat there may be instances wherein it would be advantageous to have the elements graduated as to the degree of heat generated thereby as, for example, the elements nearer the center of the structure could be the hottest, while the elements approaching each end of the structure progressively could diminish in their heat producing capacities. The heating elements are connected, of course, to a suitable supply source, not shown, since the manner in which this would be done is well understood in the art.

A series of longitudinally spaced horizontally positioned propulsion rolls I6 extend transversely of the interior of the structure and are suitably supported in bearing bosses II formed integral with the side walls I8 of the structure, see Fig. 4. The strip material passing through the structure rests upon and is moved by the propulsion rolls I6, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. The upper wall I9 and the bottom wall 20 of the structure are extended along their longitudinal edges beyond the side walls I8 and said extended portions of the upper and bottom walls are parallel to .the bearing bosses I1 and of the same length. A closure plate 2| is secured-to the outer ends of said extending portions of the upper and bottom walls I9 and 20 at the right hand side of the structure, as viewed in Fig. 4, by means of suit able securing elements 22. The plate 2| is provided with bearing bosses 23 which rotatably receive the reduced right hand end portions I6a of the propulsion rolls, wherefore it will be seen that the plate 2| retains the propulsion rolls I6 against axial displacement toward the right as viewed in the drawings,

At the left hand side of the structure, as viewed in Fig. 4, a closure plate 24 is secured to the outer 4 ends of the extended portions of the top and bottom walls I9 and 20 by suitable securing means 22. The closure plate 24 is provided with elongated bearing bosses 25 which rotatably receive relatively long reduced end portions IBb of the rolls I6. The plate 24 retains the rolls I6 against axial displacement toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, while the reduced portions I6b of the rolls are of such length as to project outwardly beyond the outer ends of the bearing bosses 25. All of the rolls I6 are considered as driven propulsion rolls and the outwardly projecting ends of the reduced portion I6b of the rolls as having fixed thereto worm wheels 26. It will be understood that certain of the rolls I6 may be idler rolls and not driven, if desired, and in such event the outer ends of the reduced portions I6b of said idler rolls would not have worm wheels 26 fixed thereto. The propulsion rolls may be driven at any suitable or desired speed by a worm shaft 21 driven by an electric motor 28 operatively connected to the worm shaft 2'! by suitable connecting means such as the endless belt or chain 29 passing around suitable pulleys or sprockets fixed to the worm shaft 21 and to the spindle of the motor 28.

The side Walls I3, the closure plates 2| and 24 and the extended portions of the top and bottom walls I9 and 20 of the structure provide cooling compartments 30 in which the bearing bosses I'I are located. Suitable coolant, which may be water or a suitable liquid or fluid is circulated through the compartments 30 by means of a fiuid circulating conduit system indicated in Fig. 4 generally by the numeral 3| and which system is in communication with the compartments through suitable openings formed in the closure plates 2| and 24, as clearly illustrated.

It will be understood that the cooling medium which is circulated through the conduit system 3| and the compartments 30 can be provided from any suitable source of supply and can be circulated by any suitable circulating means which may be simply the usual water supply system of the building containing the apparatus.

The bearing bosses I! are each provided with one or more annular grooves 32 in communication with the bores through the bosses and for a purpose later to be made apparent.

The end walls 33 of the structure and which contain the inlet and outlet slots I2 and I3 have fixedly secured thereto by means of suitable securing elements 34 U-shaped members having a base 35 and upwardly extending legs 36 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The base 35 and the legs 36 of each U-shaped member are hollow, wherefore each member is provided with a cooling compartment 37 also U-shaped as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The upper side of the base 35 of each member is provided with one or more grooves 38 extending longitudinally of the base and transversely of the apparatus. If more than one of the grooves 38 is employed such grooves are spaced in a longitudinal direction with respect to the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1.

The inner side of each leg 36 of each member is provided with vertically extending transversely spaced ribs 39 forming therebetween channels which slidably receive ribs 40 formed on the opposite ends of a vertically adjustable member 4| located between the legs 26 of the U-shaped memher. The members 4| can be adjusted vertically and secured in adjusted position by means of adjusting bolts 42 which screw into threaded bosses 43formed on the upper side of the members 4|.

7 ings for the rolls l6. The molten substance in the pressure chamber being under pressure it will be forced through the inlet opening I2 and the outlet opening I3 around the strip material and such substance will fill the grooves 38 of the base 35 of'the U-shaped members and the grooves 46 of the adjustable members 4|. However, due to the circulation of a cooling medium through the cooling. compartments 31 and 45 the substance which has thus been forced around the strip material and between the members 4| and the U- shaped members will be cooled and solidified and serves as a seal against the leakage of the molten substance from the pressure chamber, thereby preventing any reduction in the pressure maintained on the substance within the pressure chamber.

As previously explained, the substance employed when in its solid state is ductile and pliable and, therefore, would not hinder the passage of the strip material through those portions of the substance which have been cooled and solidified at the inlet and outlet ends of the apparatus.

' Reference is now made to Fig. 4 for the purpose of explaining the manner in which the molten substance itself furnishes the sealing means at the bearings for the rolls l6. The molten substance within the pressure chamber of the structure It! being under pressure will be forced along the ends of the rolls l6 and into the bearing bosses I1 and will fill the grooves 32 formed in said bearing bosses, However, since a cooling medium is circulated through the coolingcompartments 30 the material which has been forced around the ends of the rolls [6 and into the grooves 32 will be cooled and solidified and will serve as an efficient seal against the escape of the molten substance from the pressure chamber through the bearings for the rolls 16 thus preventing loss of pressure within the chamber.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the strip material can be fed continuously or intermittently through the pressure chamber in continuous strip form and heat and pressure applied to the strip material to process the same. This feeding movement of the strip material through the pressure chamber and at the desired rate is possible because of the efficient seals provided by the cooled and solidified molten substance at all openings to the chamber. The advantages incident to the ability of moving the strip material through the pressure chamber in continuous strip form are substantial ones and constitute a major progression in the art over the use of the usual autoclave or hydraulic press as hereinbefore referred to.

As previously stated, the molten substance in the pressure chamber might be progressively cooled toward the opposite ends of the chamber, that is progressively cooled toward the inlet and exit ends to gradually solidify and reduce the pressure of the molten substance and thus efiect an efiicient seal.

Referring to Fig. 5, a modified form of construction is illustrated for the inlet end of the pressure chamber, it being understood that the outlet end thereof will be similarly constructed. The structure containing the pressure chamber is indicated at 63 and the opposite ends of the chamber are defined by tapered wall portions 64. The tapered wall portion contains a horizontal transversely extending slot 65 constituting either an inlet slot or an outlet slot to or from the pressure chamber and beyond such slot the structure is provided internally with ribs forming cooling compartments 66 and recesses 61, with the latter located on opposite sides of the strip material and adapted to be filled with the cooled and solidified stance is progressively cooled it will be grad-- ually solidified. Of course as the substance is gradually solidified the pressure thereof is gradually reduced. As illustrative of this gradual reduction in temperature and pressure we will assume that the molten substance in the pressure chamber is at 250 F. and under 250# pressure. The substance in the most right hand recess 61 is cooled for instance to 200 F. so the resultant reduction in its pressure is to 200#. The substance in the next recess 61 is reduced to a temperature of 150 F. and to a pressure of 150#, while in the next recess the temperature of the substance will be reduced to F. and the pressure thereof to 100#. In the most outwardly of the recesses 61 the temperature of the substance will be reduced to 50 F. and the presure there of to 50# and at this time such substance will be solid but dutcile and will provide an adequate seal through which the strip material can be passed as it is fed through the apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 6, the structure 69 containing the pressure chamber is provided adjacent the inlet and outlet ends of the pressure chamber with internal downwardly inclined walls lll which merge into straight and shorter wall portions II that extend to the end walls '52 of the structure. The internal walls 10 define a conical or tapered portion of the pressure chamber which merges at its small end into a reduced slot defined by the wall portions H and constituting either a horizontally extending inlet or outlet opening. The internal walls 10, wall portions ll, end walls 12 and the outer walls of the structure define wedge shaped cooling compartments "E3 in which a cooling medium can be circulated by means of the conduits l4.

Internally of the structure 69 and within the conical or tapered portion of the pressure chamber defined by the inclined internal walls 10 there are arranged one or more cooling conduits 15 extending transversely of the pressure chamber and through which a cooling medium can becirculated. In the construction illustrated these cooling conduits are shown as eight in number arranged in two series of four conduits each. Although all of the conduits may be of the same size or may have the same cooling capacity, said conduits are illustrated as decreasing in size or cooling capacity from the larger part of the conical or tapered portion of the pressure chamber toward the smaller part thereof; that is, the

innermost cooling conduits, as viewed in Fig. 6, will have the greatest cooling capacity, since they are located in the largest volume of the molten substance. The cooling capacities of the conduits 15 may gradually decrease toward the endof the. chamber, in accordance with the re.- duction in volume of the molten substance sur rounding the. conduits.

It will be seen that the cooling conduits function to progressively cool the molten substance from the pressure chamber outwardly toward the inlet oroutlet openings. Inasmuch as the molten substance tends to solidify as it is cooled with a proportional reduction in the pressure thereof, it will be seen that the pres sure is progressively reduced from the pressure chamber toward the inletcor outlet openings. The molten substance beyond the. outermost conduits 75; Will be further cooled and solidified by the cooling compartments #3 and will serve to seal the inlet and outlet openings,

Referring to Fig. 7 it will be seen, that the structure ll) which contains the pressure cham-- ber; differs from the structure shown in Fig, l in that the propulsion rolls l6 are omitted. The strip material in the form of construction shown in Fig. 7 instead of being supported bythe propulsion rolls it as the strip travels through the pressure chamber is supported by a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinally extending rigid supporting ribs or rails Hi, it being understood that the movement of the strip material through the pressure chamber of Fig. 7 will be occasioned solely bythe; action of the rolls 6|. located externally of each end of the pressure chamber.

Although several preferred embodiments ofthe invention have been, illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of variousmodifications and adap tations within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An apparatus for applying heat, and pressure to an article comprising a structure provided with a pressure chamber and having an inlet opening for said article, means for. con tinuously circulating the same heated molten: substance under pressure through said chamber and in contact with said article therein, and; means adjacent tosaid opening and providing a passage in alignment with. said. opening and through which passage said article passes,v said: last named means including a cooling compart men; substantially: surrounding said passage and adapted to: have acooling mediumcirculated therein to cool; and solidify those portions: ofthe substance which have entered; said passage through, said opening,.said. cooled and solidified portions forming aseah against the leakage of said, substance from said chamber.

2. An apparatus for applying. heat and pres-- sure. to an article; comprising a structure provided with: a pressure chamber and having an; inlet. opening for; said; article, means for; continu usly circulating: the same; heated; molten substance under pressure; throughv said; chain, ber and in contact withsaidarticletherein, and means secured to said: structure and providing a passage in alignment with said opening and through which passage said" article passes in enterin said chamber, said. lastnamed means including a cooling compartment substantially surrounding said passage and adapted to have a cooling medium circulated therein to cool and solidify, those portions of the; substance-which have entered, said passage through said. opemings, said cooled... and. solidified. portions forming a seal against the leakage" of said substance from said chamber.

- 3; Anapparatus, for applyingneat andlpressu-ra to an article comprising astructure provided with a pressure chamber and having inlet and outlet openings for said article located at opposite ends of said chamber, means for continuously circulating the same heated molten substance under pressure through said chamber and in contact with said article, and means operatively associated with said structure adjacent said openings and providing passages in alignment withsaid openings and through which passages said article passes, said last named means including cooling compartments substantially surrounding said passages and adapted to have cooling medium circulated thereinto cool and solidify those portions of the substance which. have entered said passages through said openings, said cooled and solidified portionsv forming seals against the leakage of said substance from said chamber.

4. An apparatus for applying heat and pressure to an article comprising a structure'provided' with a pressure chamber and havinginlet and outlet openings for saidarticle, means for continuously circulating the sameheatedmolten substance under pressure through said chamber and in contact with said article, and means secured tosaid structure and providing passages in alignment with said openings and through which passages 7 said article passes in entering and leaving said chamber, said last named means including cooling compartments substantially surrounding said, passages and adapted to have a cooling medium: circulated therein to cool and solidify those portions of the substance. which; have entered said passages through said openings, said cooled, and solidified portions forming seals against the leakage of said substance from said chamber.

5; An apparatus for applyingheat and pressure to anarticle comprising a structure provided with a pressure chamber and having in its walls bear. ings for movable article supporting parts of the apparatus, means for positioning the article in. said chamber, means for introducing a heated molten substance under pressure. into said chamber to fill the latter and contact the article-there:- in, and means operatively associated with saidstructure for cooling and solidifying portions of said substance adjacent to=said bearings. to pre-- vent leakage of thesubstance from said chamber throughsaid bearings.

6; An apparatus for applying heat and pressure. to anarticle comprising a structure provided with a pressure chamber and having an inlet. opening for said. articles; said structure alsobeing provided in its walls with bearings for movable article. supporting parts of the apparatus, means for introducing aheated; molten substance under pressure into said chamber to fill the latter and contact the article therein, and means operatively associated: with. said. structure for cooling and solidifying portions of. said substance adlacent said opening and. sa-idbearin'gs to prevent-leakage ofzsaid substance fromsaid chamber through said opening and bearings.

7*. Anapparatus for applying heat and pressure toan article-comprising a structure provided with ber; and: in contact withthe. articletherein, andmeans operatively associated with said structure adjacentsaid; bearings.- for cooling and solidifyits ins: saidsubstance: whichtends to leak from the pressure chamber through said bearings and into said grooves. V

8. An apparatus for applying heat and pressure to an article comprising a structure provided with a pressure chamber and having an inlet opening for said article, means for introducing a heated molten substance under pressure into said chamber and in contact with said article therein, means operatively associated with said structure adjacent said opening and providing a passage in alignment with said opening and through which passage said article passes in entering said chamber, said last named means including cooling compartments substantially surrounding said passage and adapted to have a cooling medium circulated therein to cool and solidify those portions of the substance which have entered said passage, said structure also being provided in its walls with bearings for movable article supporting parts of the apparatus, means for positioning the article in said chamber upon said parts, and means operatively associated with'said structure for cooling and solidifying portions of said substance adjacent said bearings to prevent leakage of the substance from said chamber through said bearings.

9. An apparatus for applying heat and pressure to an article comprising a structure provided with a pressure chamber and having inlet and outlet openings for said article adjacent opposite ends of said chamber, means for introducing a heated molten substance under pressure into said chamber and in contact with said article, means operatively associated with said structure adjacent said openings and providing passages in alignment with said openings and through which passages said article passes in moving through said chamber, said last named means including cooling compartments substantially surrounding said passages and adapted to have a cooling medium circulated therein to cool and solidify those portions of the substance which have entered said passages and thus provide seals againstthe leakage of said substance from said chamber, said structure also being provided in its walls with bearings for movable article supporting parts of the apparatus, means for positioning the article in said chamber and upon said parts, and means operatively associated with said structure for cooling and solidifying the portions of said substance adjacent to said hearings to prevent leakage of the substance from said chamberthrough said bearings.

10. An apparatus for applying heat and pressure to an article comprising a structure provided with a pressur chamber and having an inlet opening for said article, means for introducing a heated molten substance under pressure into said chamber and in contact with said article therein, and means adjacent to said opening and providing a passage in alignment with said opening and through which passage said article passes, said last named means having a series of recesses spaced longitudinally of said passage and communicating therewith, said last named means including a cooling compartment substantially surrounding said passage and adapted to have a cooling medium circulated therein to cool and solidify those portions of the substance which have entered said passage and said recesses through said opening, said cooled and solidified portions in said recesses forming sealing rings to prevent the leakage of said substance from said chamber.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim and wherein there is a series of cooling compartments spaced longitudinally of the passage and corresponding in number to the number of said recesses and substantially surrounding said passage.

12. An apparatus for applying heat and pressure to an article comprising a structure provided with a pressure chamber and having inlet and outlet openings for said article located at the opposite ends of said chamber, means for introducing a heated molten substance under pressure into said chamber and in contact with said article, and means operatively associated with said structure adjacent said openings and providing passages in alignment with said openings and through which passages said article passes, said last named means having series of recesses spaced longitudinally of said passage and communicating therewith, said last named means including cooling compartments substantially surrounding said passages and adapted to have cooling medium circulated therein to cool and solidify those portions of the substance which have entered said passages and said recesses through said openings, said cooled and solidified portions in said recesses forming sealing rings to prevent the leakage of said substance from said chamber.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12 and wherein there is provided series of cooling compartments spaced longitudinally of the passages and corresponding in number to the number of said recesses.

14. An apparatus for applying heat and pressure to an article comprising a structure provided with a pressure chamber and having an opening through which said article may extend, means for introducing a heated molten substance under pressure into said chamber and in contact with the article therein, said structure adjacent said opening being provided with interior wall means forming a portion of said chamber and of outwardly diminishing tapered configuration and communicating with said opening, said structure also being provided with a cooling compartment substantially surrounding said interior Wall means and adapted to have a cooling medium circulated therein to cool and solidify those portions of the substance which are within said interior wall means, said cooled and solidified portions of saidsubstance forming a seal against the leakage of said substance from said chamber through said opening.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 and wherein a series of cooling conduits spaced longitudinally of said chamber are located within said interior wall means.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 and wherein series of cooling conduits spaced 1ongitudinally of said chamber are located within said interior wall means with the cooling capacities of the conduits'of said series gradually decreasing toward said opening.

JOHN C. CROWLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,293,840 Lignian Aug. 25, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 505,162 Great Britain May 5, 1939 

